Epeak estimator for gamma-ray bursts observed by the swift burst alert telescope

T. Sakamoto; G. Sato; L. Barbier; S. D. Barthelmy; J. R. Cummings; E. E. Fenimore; N. Gehrels; D. Hullinger; H. A. Krimm; D. Q. Lamb; C. B. Markwardt; D. M. Palmer; A. M. Parsons; M. Stamatikos; J. Tueller; T. N. Ukwatta

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/693/1/922

E_peak estimator for gamma-ray bursts observed by the swift burst alert telescope

T. Sakamoto^*, G. Sato, L. Barbier, S. D. Barthelmy, J. R. Cummings, E. E. Fenimore, N. Gehrels, D. Hullinger, H. A. Krimm, D. Q. Lamb, C. B. Markwardt, D. M. Palmer, A. M. Parsons, M. Stamatikos, J. Tueller, T. N. Ukwatta

^*Corresponding author for this work

Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report a correlation based on a spectral simulation study of the prompt emission spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). The correlation is between the E_peak energy, which is the peak energy in the νF_ν spectrum, and the photon index (Γ) derived from a simple power-law (PL) model. The E_peak- Γ relation, assuming the typical smoothly broken PL spectrum of GRBs, is log E_peak = 3.258-0.829 Γ (1.3 ≤ Γ ≤ 2.3). We take into account not only a range of E_peak energies and fluences, but also distributions for both the low-energy photon index and the high-energy photon index in the smoothly broken PL model. The distribution of burst durations in the BAT GRB sample is also included in the simulation. Our correlation is consistent with the index observed by BAT and E_peak measured by the BAT, and by other GRB instruments. Since about 85% of GRBs observed by the BAT are acceptably fit with the simple PL model because of the relatively narrow energy range of the BAT, this relationship can be used to estimate E_peak when it is located within the BAT energy range.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	922-935
Number of pages	14
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	693
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/1/922
Publication status	Published - 2009 Mar 1

Keywords

gamma rays: bursts

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Space and Planetary Science
Astronomy and Astrophysics

Access to Document

10.1088/0004-637X/693/1/922

Cite this

Sakamoto, T., Sato, G., Barbier, L., Barthelmy, S. D., Cummings, J. R., Fenimore, E. E., Gehrels, N., Hullinger, D., Krimm, H. A., Lamb, D. Q., Markwardt, C. B., Palmer, D. M., Parsons, A. M., Stamatikos, M., Tueller, J., & Ukwatta, T. N. (2009). E_peak estimator for gamma-ray bursts observed by the swift burst alert telescope. Astrophysical Journal, 693(1), 922-935. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/1/922

Sakamoto, T, Sato, G, Barbier, L, Barthelmy, SD, Cummings, JR, Fenimore, EE, Gehrels, N, Hullinger, D, Krimm, HA, Lamb, DQ, Markwardt, CB, Palmer, DM, Parsons, AM, Stamatikos, M, Tueller, J & Ukwatta, TN 2009, 'E_peak estimator for gamma-ray bursts observed by the swift burst alert telescope', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 693, no. 1, pp. 922-935. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/1/922

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abstract = "We report a correlation based on a spectral simulation study of the prompt emission spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). The correlation is between the Epeak energy, which is the peak energy in the νFν spectrum, and the photon index (Γ) derived from a simple power-law (PL) model. The Epeak- Γ relation, assuming the typical smoothly broken PL spectrum of GRBs, is log Epeak = 3.258-0.829 Γ (1.3 ≤ Γ ≤ 2.3). We take into account not only a range of Epeak energies and fluences, but also distributions for both the low-energy photon index and the high-energy photon index in the smoothly broken PL model. The distribution of burst durations in the BAT GRB sample is also included in the simulation. Our correlation is consistent with the index observed by BAT and Epeak measured by the BAT, and by other GRB instruments. Since about 85% of GRBs observed by the BAT are acceptably fit with the simple PL model because of the relatively narrow energy range of the BAT, this relationship can be used to estimate Epeak when it is located within the BAT energy range.",

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AU - Sakamoto, T.

AU - Sato, G.

AU - Barbier, L.

AU - Barthelmy, S. D.

AU - Cummings, J. R.

AU - Fenimore, E. E.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Hullinger, D.

AU - Krimm, H. A.

AU - Lamb, D. Q.

AU - Markwardt, C. B.

AU - Palmer, D. M.

AU - Parsons, A. M.

AU - Stamatikos, M.

AU - Tueller, J.

AU - Ukwatta, T. N.

PY - 2009/3/1

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N2 - We report a correlation based on a spectral simulation study of the prompt emission spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). The correlation is between the Epeak energy, which is the peak energy in the νFν spectrum, and the photon index (Γ) derived from a simple power-law (PL) model. The Epeak- Γ relation, assuming the typical smoothly broken PL spectrum of GRBs, is log Epeak = 3.258-0.829 Γ (1.3 ≤ Γ ≤ 2.3). We take into account not only a range of Epeak energies and fluences, but also distributions for both the low-energy photon index and the high-energy photon index in the smoothly broken PL model. The distribution of burst durations in the BAT GRB sample is also included in the simulation. Our correlation is consistent with the index observed by BAT and Epeak measured by the BAT, and by other GRB instruments. Since about 85% of GRBs observed by the BAT are acceptably fit with the simple PL model because of the relatively narrow energy range of the BAT, this relationship can be used to estimate Epeak when it is located within the BAT energy range.

AB - We report a correlation based on a spectral simulation study of the prompt emission spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). The correlation is between the Epeak energy, which is the peak energy in the νFν spectrum, and the photon index (Γ) derived from a simple power-law (PL) model. The Epeak- Γ relation, assuming the typical smoothly broken PL spectrum of GRBs, is log Epeak = 3.258-0.829 Γ (1.3 ≤ Γ ≤ 2.3). We take into account not only a range of Epeak energies and fluences, but also distributions for both the low-energy photon index and the high-energy photon index in the smoothly broken PL model. The distribution of burst durations in the BAT GRB sample is also included in the simulation. Our correlation is consistent with the index observed by BAT and Epeak measured by the BAT, and by other GRB instruments. Since about 85% of GRBs observed by the BAT are acceptably fit with the simple PL model because of the relatively narrow energy range of the BAT, this relationship can be used to estimate Epeak when it is located within the BAT energy range.

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